Bilateral Economic Engagement Strategies with Newly Admitted ASEAN Member Timor Leste
Ministry of Trade and IndustrySpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the government’s assessment of trade and tourism opportunities in Timor-Leste following its 2025 accession to ASEAN, as raised by MP Gerald Giam Yean Song. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong highlighted that while trade reached $89.9 million in 2024, full integration depends on Timor-Leste implementing domestic reforms and ASEAN community treaties. The Minister noted that direct flights have commenced and Singapore welcomed 3,668 visitors from Timor-Leste in 2024, signaling potential for growth as the market matures. To support this, Singapore provides the Enhanced Singapore-Timor-Leste ASEAN Readiness Support (eSTARS) package, offering customized capacity building, leadership programs, and postgraduate scholarships. These strategic efforts aim to build a transparent economic environment and support Timor-Leste’s integration into ASEAN, thereby enhancing bilateral trade and tourism cooperation.
Transcript
7 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (a) what is the Government's assessment of trade and tourism opportunities for Singapore in Timor Leste, following its accession to ASEAN in October 2025; and (b) what are the Government's plans to boost Singapore's trade and tourism with Timor Leste.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Timor-Leste acceded to ASEAN on 26 October 2025 and is in the process of implementing the Roadmap for Timor-Leste's Full Membership in ASEAN. This will take time as Timor-Leste will need to accede to all ASEAN treaties, conventions, agreements and instruments under the three ASEAN Community pillars1, in parallel with undertaking the necessary domestic reforms towards a more accessible, transparent and predictable economic environment.
Timor-Leste is a nascent market for Singapore companies. In 2024, Singapore's total trade with Timor-Leste amounted to $89.9 million. Direct flights between Singapore and Timor-Leste commenced in 2024 and Singapore welcomed 3,668 visitors from Timor-Leste in the same year. With Timor-Leste's economic integration into ASEAN, we will work with interested companies to explore opportunities in Timor-Leste.
Singapore remains committed to support Timor-Leste's integration into ASEAN through the eSTARS (Enhanced Singapore-Timor-Leste ASEAN Readiness Support) package, which offers a customised slate of programmes. This includes supporting Timor-Leste on the workings of ASEAN across the three Community pillars and ASEAN's growing network of external partners, as well as tailored assistance for ASEAN economic agreements, leadership and customised capacity building programmes, and postgraduate scholarships which are aligned with Timor-Leste's development priorities. These efforts will contribute to the development of the Timor-Leste economy, including trade and tourism cooperation with Singapore and other ASEAN countries.